Pharmacare
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Insulin Pump Decision Shows Albertans Fighting Back Can Win
This morning, the Government of Alberta reversed course on previously announced changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program following backlash from Albertans.
In May, the lives of 4,000 Albertans with diabetes and their families were thrown into chaos and uncertainty when the government announced sudden changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program. Albertans responded quickly, sending more than twenty thousand letters to their representatives, speaking out against these changes and the destructive impact they would have on their households and communities. Shortly after, the government announced a pause to those changes, and today reversed course completely.
Written by Friends of Medicare
July 21, 2022 -
Short-sighted cuts to insulin pump program will cost Albertans more for the care they need
Yesterday, the provincial government announced changes to its insulin pump benefits program, impacting up to 4,000 Albertans with diabetes. Instead, people will have to seek coverage via private workplace insurance plans, or government benefit plans, potentially leaving many Albertans subject to costly co-pays and premiums.
Alberta’s complex patchwork of private and public drug and supplementary health benefit plans has left far too many of us struggling to pay for the medications and treatments we need. An estimated 420 working-aged Canadians with diabetes die each year because they don't have adequate access to their medications.
Written by Friends of Medicare
May 04, 2022 -
Albertans Need Pharmacare
We need our governments to support a universal, public drug plan for ALL Canadians. 9 in 10 Albertans support national #pharmacare — let's make sure our govt hears this loud & clear. Add your voice!
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Federal Budget Expansion of Dental Coverage Good News for Alberta Children
More work still needed on universal pharmacare, long-term care standards, paid sick leave, the drug poisoning crisis, and protecting public health care in Alberta
This afternoon the federal government tabled their budget for 2022-2023. It included items laid out in the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the NDP, most notably: adding dental care coverage for children 12 and under this year.
“Dental care is health care. Yet far too many Albertans have long been forced to forego necessary dental procedures due to cost-related barriers to access, and entrenched economic inequality,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The dental care commitment in today’s federal budget is good news for Alberta children, and we’re hopeful this will be the first step towards truly universal public dental care for all.”
Written by Friends of Medicare
April 07, 2022 -
Friends of Medicare Reaction to the Federal Confidence and Supply Agreement
Today’s agreement between the Liberals and NDP includes concrete action on universal Pharmacare and dental care in Canada
Written by Chris Gallaway
March 22, 2022 -
Any new federal health funding must be targeted towards stronger public health care in Alberta
Premiers' demand for federal dollars through increased Canada Health Transfer must have strings attached to ensure it goes to improving health care for all
The Council of the Federation, made up of the 13 provincial and territorial premiers, are meeting tomorrow with a focus on their united push for an increase in the Canada Health Transfer that the Federal government provides. Over the past two years, many of the premiers have used the ongoing pandemic as a justification to call for an unconditional increase in health funding.“Even during this global pandemic our provincial UCP government has repeatedly shown they can’t be trusted to prioritize our public health care system over their ideological push for corporate tax cuts, layoffs, funding cuts and privatization,” said Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Friends of Medicare
February 03, 2022